Off The Course
Gather up those strays rattling around in your junk drawer—they come in handy around the house.
1. Patch Old Screw Holes
Coat a wood tee with carpenter’s glue, and use a hammer to tap it point-first into a hole that needs filling. Use a flush-cut saw to cut off the head of the tee so that the remaining section is flush with the wall. Finish with spackling compound to smooth the surface.
2. Sow Herb Seeds
Use the tip of a tee to make ¼-inch-deep furrow lines in pots of seed-starting soil. Dampen the tee’s point, and use it to pick up tiny seeds, which will cling to it. Place them one by one in the furrows.
3. Stake a Picnic Blanket
Cut small slits in the corners of a blanket. Push pro-length golf tees (4 inches) through the slits and into the ground to keep the fabric anchored during a stiff breeze.
4. Use as Spacers
As you’re laying large tiles, pavers, or stepping stones, place tees between the pieces to space them evenly before grouting or filling the joints. Place the tees on their heads or point-side down, depending on which spacing best suits your project.
5. Replace a Lost Cap
In a pinch, use a tee to plug the end of a tube of adhesive or caulk. A pro-length tee will cut through gunk and fit into the slender neck of most tubes.
6. Keep Your Drill Steady
Before making pilot holes for wall anchors, place a golf tee pointed-end first against the drywall and tap it gently with a hammer. This will create a small divot that your drill bit can rest in.
7. Color-Code Bulbs
When it’s time to plant spring-blooming bulbs, like tulips and daffodils, map a landscaping plan using tees in different hues to represent the mix of colors and varieties in your garden.
8. Give Your Kids DIY Practice
Let the little ones pound short golf tees into a block of rigid foam with a toy hammer. It’s a safe way for them to hone their tool skills.
9. Remove Caulk
Use the pointed end of a tee to help scrape away the last bits of grubby old caulk before running a fresh bead around your bathtub.
10. Organize Your Workshop
Short on specialty hooks? Push tees into pegboard that has 3/16-inch holes, and use them to hang your hand tools.